Abscess Incision and Drainage in Houston

That lump beneath your skin may be a relatively harmless cyst, or it may be an abscess that can grow and promote a potentially dangerous infection. If you’ve been struggling with pain, fluid drainage, and other worrying symptoms, you need to get the abscess properly evaluated and treated. Fortunately, NW Surgery provides abscess incision and drainage in Houston.

What Is an Abscess?

Image of a woman having a swelling Abscess on her armsMany people don’t understand the difference between a cyst and an abscess. Both conditions commonly create visible, palpable lumps. However, a cyst may contain either fluid or air, doesn’t necessarily cause discomfort, and usually poses no threat to human health. By contrast, an abscess contains pus, usually as the product of a bacterial infection.

An abscess can develop anywhere on the skin, especially the chest, abdomen, back, buttocks, face, underarm, or groin area. It often occurs in or around hair follicles, a problem known as folliculitis. Under certain conditions, a cyst can progress into an abscess.

You may be more vulnerable if your immune system has trouble fighting off infections. Alcohol abuse, diabetes, AIDS, cancer (including chemotherapy for cancer), intestinal disorders, and sickle cell disease can all raise your risk of developing abscesses.

How Are Abscesses Treated?

The back of mature Asian man with red abscesses Milder, smaller abscesses often heal on their own. If you suffer from poor immune function or develop a large, inflamed abscess, you should seek immediate medical evaluation. Don’t try to pop or drain it on your own; you could push the pus into your bloodstream, creating a systemic infection.

Although some respond to topical or oral antibiotics, more serious ones require incision and drainage. In this form of treatment, the doctor makes a small cut in the skin that allows the pus to drain out, often with some encouragement from sterile instruments. The doctor then typically leaves the wound open so the abscess will continue to drain during the healing process. 

What to Expect From Abscess Incision and Drainage Surgery

The medical team may extract a tiny bit of fluid to confirm an underlying bacterial infection. Your surgeon may also put you on an antibiotic treatment program before you actually undergo an abscess incision and drainage in Houston. This course of antibiotics will help protect the body against additional infection and may also keep the abscess from getting worse.

Incision and drainage count as a quick, uncomplicated outpatient procedure. You’ll receive a local anesthetic to block the pain from the incision. After sterilizing the skin, the surgeon will make the incision, drain the pus, and then clean the emptied pocket before packing it with a dressing material.

Surgeons doing some Abscess Incision and Drainage surgery in the operating room Your surgeon will instruct you on how to remove the used dressing and repack the incision every day or so. If you can’t easily reach or manipulate the dressing, you can receive this care at a medical facility. Warm compresses and gentle cleaning with soap should help the pocket heal and close up within a couple of weeks. If you started a course of antibiotics, make sure to complete it even if your abscess seems better.

Once you’ve recovered from your abscess, you can reduce your odds of getting future abscesses by adopting the following smart self-care practices:

  • Don’t share bath towels, razors, or other personal hygiene items.
  • Clean and bandage any skin injuries immediately to prevent infection.
  • Get balanced nutrition and avoid smoking to optimize your immune system health.
  • Get into the habit of washing your hands regularly.

Let NW Surgery Help You

Surgeon is having a consultation with a patient that has an Abscess in her skin NW Surgery is proud to serve as Houston’s leading outpatient surgery resource. In addition to surgical abscess treatment, our skilled specialists can perform a wide range of surgical procedures, including orthopedic surgery for conditions affecting the spine and extremities. We offer decades of experience and access to the finest surgeons in the Houston area.

Don’t let a lack of insurance keep you from getting that potentially dangerous abscess treated. We frequently work with uninsured patients on a cash-payment basis. We also take private health insurance from leading providers as well as workers’ compensation and Medicare.

Get That Abscess Under Control, Starting Today

An abscess can cause a lot more trouble than just discomfort and embarrassment, so don’t let that inflamed lump go untreated any longer than necessary. Contact us today so we can provide you with top-quality surgical expertise for abscess incision and drainage in Houston.